Steam-superheater for boilers.



J. S. MILNE. STEAM SUPERHEATER FOB BOILERS.

ATTORNEYS L S. MILNE. STEAM SUPEHHEATER FOR BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILVED JULY 13. 1915. 1,163,357. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I NVENTOR ATTORNEYS J. S. MILNE. STEAM SUPERHEATER FOR BOILERS.

vAPPLICATION FILED JULY T3. |915A Patenfed Dec. 7, 1915.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

OUTLET INYENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Cro.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cn4.wASHlNn'roN, D. c.

JAMES S. ,MILNE 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAM-SUPERHEATER FOR BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 7, i915.

Application filed July 13, 1915. Serial No. 39,547.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES STRAci-IAN Minnie, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new anduseful Steam-Superheater for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel constructionf of a steam superlieater for boilers of various types, wherein the heating surfaces of the boiler are decreased as little as possible, there being no interference with the cleaning or repair of the boiler fines, while the superheater itself is composed of parts easily accessible for repair, and as free as possible from joints which are liable to leali, my novel device being simple in construction, economical in maintenance, eiiicient in operation and interfering to a minimum extentwith the boiler and smoke boX.

My invention further comprises the construction of the superheater elements, tubes or loops in such manner that each element, tube, loop or unit of thesuperlieater shall be rseparately connected vwith the superheater headers in the smo-ke box, in such a manner thatthey may be quickly disconnected from the same andas easily reconnected, for the purposes of inspection, re-

placement or repair.

My invention further comprises a novel construction of superheater units, which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured, and wherein the return bend or bent portion of the superheater is welded, so that an integral supei'heater unit is produced as anni-ticle of manufacture, which shall be of maximum strength, durability and effectiveness in service, and one wherein elbow {ittings'or screw-threaded loops which are liable to leakage at the bends are'dispensed with, my novel superheater units having return bends which by their form of construction permit the tubes to have a maxi-` mum cross-sectional area without restricting said area at the bend, and with a mini-l mum restriction of the cross-sectional area ofthe Smoke tubes in whichthe superheater tively, to which .said units are connected by novel devices, so that the superheater units can be readily attached to any type of boiler or steam'generator, and can be inserted or strumentalities as herein shown withdrawn during the working of the boilers, and the parts readily repairedy or removed, without having to disturb or disconnect the entire superheater, the superheater units being arranged in a series o-f independent sections of moderate weight f and convenient of form for handling, as will be hereinafter set forth. f

. To the above ends, my invention consists ofthe novel construction of superheater hereinafter set forth. f

u F or the purpose of illustrating my invenreliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instruinentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise ar'- rangement and organization of. these inand described. i

4 Figure ll representsavertical, longitudinal ksection of a steam superheater embodying rmy invention, showing also a steam boiler to which the saine is applicable. F 2 represents on an enlarged scale, an enlarged, fragmentary, partly longitudinal and partly sectional view of parts of the superheater and its adjuncts. Fig. 3 repre-r sents a top plan view, partly in section, of the low r inlet header and two of the upper boiler flues and the superlieater tubes therein. j Fig. 4 yrepresents a transverse section on line tv-ir Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a front elevation, partly in section, of the siilieilieziter and its adjuncts. Fig. 6 represents a( transverse section on line e-e F ig.

5, certain of the `parts being shown'in ele-v vation. Figs. 7 and 8 representplan views of exterior flanges employed for the connection of the bent ends ofthe looped superheater tubes with the headers.k

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

.Referring to the drawings: ll designates the shell of a steam boiler of any preferred type, having the fronthead Qand the rear head 3, which may be braced by stayy or tie bolts 4. f N

5 designates a furnace of any desired character, typified, however, as an oil-burning furnace, having the front wall 6, the air4 and fuel inlet 7 through ysaid wall, the

bridge wall or battle plate 8, and the outlet port in the baille 9. y Y

5X designates the front casing of the furnace, of any usual construction.

10 designates the combustion chamber having' the tube sheet 11 and back head 12. This chamber preferably bears such a relation to the furnace and to the boiler as is typified in the drawings, but may bear any such other relationship, y longitudinal or otherwise, as may be desired.

13 designates boiler tlues suitably secured in the front and rear tube sheets, which conduct the products of combustion into the smoke box la, within which the superheater headers are located, said smoke box having a hinged front door 15 and the smoke flue 16 lleading therefrom.

17 designates a series of upper iues or containers for the superheater units, which respectively contain each a group of looped tubes or superheater units 18, said containers having their ends suitably secured in their 'front and rear tube sheets and having their rear ends of lesser diameter, or contracted as at 17X.

l/Vithin the smoke box ai'e a pair of preferably parallel, transversely -extending headers, the lower of which l term the inlet header 19and the upper the outlet header 20, the steam being conducted to the lower or inlet header 19 by means of the pipe 21 controlled by the valve The headersr 19 and 20 in the present instance are arranged substantially parallel and supported Within the smoke box by any convenient means, and their juxtaposed faces are slightly flattened to form tube sheets for the nipples 23 secured to the nipple flanges 241.

It will be seen that each ot the superheater units 18 comprises a group or unit vcomposed of two members, which are welded together at the point 18X, so that each superheater unit is an integral member, and is not provided with any joints, littings or detachable elbow connections at the point 18X, whereby all liability of leakage is prevented. The outer ends of the superheater units are bent upwardly and downwardly respectively, as indicated at 180, at their outer1 ends for connection with their respective headers, as will be best understood from Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

Through the medium ot' the coupling flanges 25 and the nipple flanges 211 which carry the nipples 23, it will be evident that the deflected ends 18o of the superheater units are readily held in assembled position, the nipple flanges 24 and the coupling 'flanges 25 being assembled by means of bolts 27, as will be understood from Figs. 5 and 6, there being suitable packing 28 interposed between the couplings 25 and 241, as will be evident from Fig. 6.

In practice, I prefer to arrange the flanges 25 in staggered order, as will be understood from Fig. 3, each alternate flange 25 being arranged at a substantially right angle to the adjacent llange, so that the superheater units, their flanges and their adj uncts are readily accessible at all times for the purposes of inspection or repairs.

As will be understood from Figs. 2 and 5, I preferably arrange two superheater units 18 within the large flue or container 17 so that a very etiicient super-heating area in each superheating' unit is presented to the action of the hot gases and products ot' combustion which pass through the enlarged flue or container 17, and it will be further apparent that by the proper manipulation ot the bolts 27, can disconnect, remove or replace any one of the superheater units in a rapid and eificient manner without disturbing the other units or other portions of the superheater. In case it is desired to clean any of the enlarged lues or containers 17, l can if desired readily remove the pair ot superheater units therein and quickly replace the same when desired.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my invention can be readily adapted to existing boilers ofany conventional type, since it is only necessary to place in position the enlarged llues or containers 17 and tothen assemble the superheater units therein in conjunction with the lower inlet header 19 and the outlet header 2O and their adjuncts, and it will be understood that my novel invention is applicable' to any form of marine, portable, stationary or locomotive boiler, and that the manner of locating and assembling the superheater units and their adj uncts can be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In case my invention is used with a locomotive boiler, it will be apparent that the connection can be made 'I'rom the inlet header 19 directly to the dry pipe which connnunicates with the steam space of the boiler, and while If have shown the pipe 21 as one means for conducting steam from the steam space to the lower header 19, it will be apparent that said steam pipe 21 may be located in other positions and connected to the inlet header 19 by other devices than that shown.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my invention embodies the substantial practical advantage of enabling a comparatively large amount oli' superheating surface to be presented in a boiler of the ordinary form and dimensions, without involving any objectionable reduction ol the tube heating surface, as my novel arrangement and collocation of the superheating units, headers and their adjuncts permit a very large area of the superheating units to be presented to the hot gases and products of combustion. lt will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that by the provision of the nipple i modification of the draft appliances of present standard practice. f

I desire to call special attention to the simplicity of my construction, since by the employment of the superheater unit `18 com-` posed of the two `straight members having the upwardly and downwardly deflected ends, said members being suitably welded together atthe point 18X, I am enabled to dispense with internal fittings, elbows or couplings, so that all liability of leakage within the superheater unit is entirely obviated.

- It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful steam superheater for boilers which embodies the'features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable resuits, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f l. In a steam superheater, the combina-y tion of an inlet header, an outlet header, an integral superheater unit having its outer ends deflected in opposite directions, a coupling flange secured to each of said outer deflected ends, nipple flanges secured to said headers, and fastening devices common to said coupling flanges and said nipple flanges.

2. In a steam superheater, an upper outlet header, a lower inlet header, a plurality of superhcating units formed in one piece'and having their outer ends deflected upwardly and downwardly respectively, nipples secured to said headers, nipple flanges secured to said nipples, coupling flanges secured to the outwardly deflected ends of said super-L heater units, and fastening devices common to the juxtaposed coupling flanges and nipple flanges.

3. In a steam superheater, an inlet header, a nipple secured thereto, a nipple flange, a coupling flange, fastening devices for said flanges, an outlet header, a nipple seclured thereto, a nipple flange, a' coupling flange, fastening devices for said two latter flanges, and an integral superheater unit having its outer ends deflected in oppositedirections and secured to said coupling flanges respectively.

f il. In a steam superheater, an inlet header, a nipple secured thereto, a nipple flange, a coupling flange, fastening devices for said flanges, an outlet header, anipple secured thereto, a nipple flange, a coupling flange, fastening devices for said two latter flanges, land a superheater unit having its outer` ends deflected in yopposite directions and secured 'to saidy coupling flanges respectively.

In a steam superheater, an inlet header, a nipple secured thereto, a nipple flange, a coupling flange, fastening devices for said flanges, an outlet header, a nipple secured thereto, a nipple flange, a. coupling flange, fastening devices for said two latter flanges, and a superheater unit of looped form having `its outer ends deflected in opposite directions and secured to said couplingflanges respectively.

6. The combination in a steam boiler, of afront and rear tube sheet, a series of upper enlarged superheater unit containers, a plurality of superheater units located in said containers and formed in one piece, having their outer ends deflected upwardly and downwardly respectively, an upper outlet header, a lower inlet header, a connection from the latter to the steam space of the boiler, nipples engaging said headers, nipple flanges therefor, coupling flanges engaging the ends of each superheater unit, and fastening devices common to said coupling flanges and nipple flanges.

7. The combination of a steam boiler having a front and rear tube sheet, a series of upper, enlarged superheater unit containers having their ends secured in said tube sheets, a plurality of superheater units located4 in said containers, each being formed in one piece and having their outer ends deflected upwardly and downwardly respectively, an upper outlet header, a lower inlet header, a connection from the latter to the steam space of the boiler, nipples engaging said headers, nipple flanges therefor, coupling flanges engaging 'the ends of each superheater unit, and fastening devices common to said coupling flanges and nipple flanges, said coupling flanges being arranged in staggered order with respect to each other.

8. In a steam superheater, the combina tion of a lower inlet header, an upper outlet header, a plurality of nipples engaging the opposed faces of said headers, flanges for said nipples, said flanges being arranged in staggered order, upper and lower flanges in engagement with said nipple flanges, and a plurality of superheater units having their outer ends deflected upwardly and downwardly and in engagement with their respective flanges.

9. In a steain superheater, the combina-v tion of a lower inlet header, an upper outlet header, a plurality of nipples engaging the opposed faces of said headers, flanges for said nipples, said flanges being arranged in staggered order, upper and lower flanges in engagement with said nipple flanges, and a plurality of superheater units having their outer ends deflected upwardly and downwardly and in engagement with their respective flanges, in combination with a steain lboiler having a series of superheate'r 4unit containers in the upper portion thereof, said superheater units being located in said containers.

l0. In a steam superheater, a lower inlet header, an upper outlet header, a plurality of nipples engaging the opposed faces of said headers, flanges for said nipples, upper and lower flanges in engagement with the nipple flange, a plurality of superheater units having their ends deflected upwardly and downwardly andvin engagement with their respective llanges, and a steam boiler having a series of superheater unit containers in the upper portion thereof, said superheater units being located in said containers and the latter having their rear eX- treinitiesof lesser diameter than their forward extremities.

11. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described superheater unit, 18, comprising the looped substantially U- shaped integral tube composed of hollow members welded at the U bend andv each having its outer end 180 deflected at an angl'e in opposite directions, the terminal of each of' said ends having the coupling flange 25 provided with apertured ends secured thereto, in combination with a nipple flange 2l., and fastening devices connnon to said coupling' and nipple flanges.

JAMES S. MILNE.

VWitnesses Trio. CHAs. HUNTER, R. D. HoUGnToN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

